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The Andalusia City School System was recognized this week as an Apple Distinguished School District, an honor from Apple, Inc. for the system’s commitment to innovation and use of technology within the classroom.

Apple’s distinction is rare with only 889 schools recognized across 37 countries. Prior to this week’s announcement, five individual schools in Alabama had received the honor. Andalusia joins Gulf Shores City Schools, also just named, as the only systemwide honorees within the state, with all three of Andalusia’s schools recognized.

“I am thrilled to that our district has been recognized as an Apple Distinguished School District, a prestigious honor that highlights our commitment to innovation, creativity and excellence in the classroom,” said Superintendent Dr. Daniel Shakespeare. “This recognition reflects the hard work and dedication of our entire school community — students, teachers, administrators and staff — who have embraced technology as a powerful tool for enhancing learning and teaching.”

Apple has four main criteria for its Distinguished School recipients: Establish a 1:1 device program, innovative use of the Apple platform; leadership and faculty proficiency with Mac devices, and creation of a leadership team dedicated to continuous innovation. Applying for the distinction is by invitation only with schools having to meet specific program qualifications.

Andalusia’s application process began in April when a team from Apple Education toured all three of the district’s schools. During those tours, educators demonstrated how Apple products are used to inspire creativity, enhance collaboration, and foster critical thinking with the classroom. Those tours led to each school being invited to complete Distinguished School application.

The application process involved detailed narratives under the themes of “Inspire,” “Imagine,” and “Impact.” The schools also submitted video showing its “innovative” uses of Apple products.

“Being selected as an Apple Distinguished School District underscores our efforts to create a learning environment that fosters critical thinking, collaboration, and creativity. It showcases our district’s leadership in integrating technology in ways that empower students to reach their full potential and prepare them for the future,” Shakespeare said.

The school system began  using Mac products about 15 years ago and by the 2019-20 school year, the system was fully 1:1 with one device per student. Students at the elementary school and junior high each have an iPad while high school students have MacBooks. The city’s implementation of a 1-cent sales tax was one of the keys in providing funds for purchasing the devices.

The system also has two faculty members dedicated to technology. Jessica Tucker serves as the system’s education technology specialist and is also a certified Apple Learning Coach. Matt McQuay is the system’s technology coordinator.

Teachers have also embraced new technologies and the Apple learning environment with about seven receiving certifications through Apple, which they pursued voluntary.

“Apple is taking recognizing that we are being innovative in how we approach teaching and learning in our schools through the usage of Mac products,” McQuay said. “When they visited they remarked that they may bring in other educators from other systems to see firsthand how we utilize Apple products here.”

McQuay added that while Mac devices are more expensive, the system is still utilizing many of the original devices it purchased about 10 years ago.

An important piece of the school’s technology puzzle was filled with the hiring of Tucker as the education technology specialist.

“I provide boots on the ground for when teachers need support in the classroom. Whether it is a virtual field trip or helping them model a lesson with technology, understanding new technology like the recent purchase of Promethean boards, I am here to assist them with anything they need in terms of technology in their classrooms,” Tucker said.

With the recognition as a Distinguished School System, school officials are invited to Apple’s Leadership Academy event held in Orlando in November.

“This achievement is a testament to our commitment to providing our students with the best possible educational experience, leveraging the power of technology to engage and inspire,” Shakespeare said. “I want to thank everyone who has contributed to this success, from teachers who have innovatively integrated technology into their classrooms, to our students who have embraced new ways of learning.”